Galectin-3 as a Predictor for Thromboembolic Formation in Patients With Non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Assessed by CHA₂DS₂-VASc Scoring

In 2001, the CHADS₂ score (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke) was developed to predict the risk of stroke in patients with non rheumatic atrial fibrillation.In this score, each patient giving one point for congestive heart failure , hypertension , age equal or more than 75 years, diabetes mellitus and two points for stroke, transient ischemic attack.

In 2010, CHADS₂ was expanded to include three additional independent risk factors: vascular disease (coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, aortic atherosclerosis), age 65-74 years, and female sex. So new, more inclusive scoring system is the CHA₂DS₂-VASc. Each patient giving one point for congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, vascular disease, age 65-74 and female gender and two point for history of stroke, transient ischemic attack and age≥75.

The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score is better to predict stroke risk in non valvular atrial fibrillation patients with a baseline CHADS₂ score of 0 to 1. The 2014 American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology/ Heart Rhythm Society guidelines also recommend the CHA₂DS₂-VASc for stroke risk in patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation. The 2016 European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend using the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score to predict stroke risk in atrial fibrillation patients and to give oral anticoagulants to men with a score of 1 or higher and women with a score of 2 or higher.

Stroke is a serious vascular problem, 25-30 percent of the cause is atrial fibrillation inspite of paroxysmal or persistent types.

Galectin-3 is known as a soluble beta-galactoside binding lectin that secreted by immune cell and mediates profibrotic pathways. Also it has a role in inflammation, cell proliferation, and tissue repair. So, it is involved in multiple diseases as liver, kidney, inflammatory disease.